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White Sox reroute Jacob Gonzalez to boost draft pool, with depth on the line

Chicago traded Jacob Gonzalez (and Brandon Eisert) to Pittsburgh for the 34th overall pick in the 2026 draft and lefty reliever Jaden Woods, swelling the White Sox’ draft pool to a league-high figure and signaling an all-in draft strategy. The move injects upside and flexibility for future selections but comes with depth risk, since Gonzalez had become a useful depth option and Charlotte’s immediate bench options are thinner. The Pirates plan to deploy Gonzalez at short, while Chicago weighs how many futures it’s willing to sacrifice for a chance at multiple impact players via the draft.